"We were praying behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) one day and when he raised his head from bowing he said: 'Sami Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears the one who praises Him).' A man behind him said: 'Rabbana wa lakal-hamd, hamdan kathiran tayyiban mubarakan fih. (O our Lord, and to You be praise, much blessed and pure praise.)' When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had finished, he said: "Who is the one who spoke just now?" The man said: 'I did, O Messenger of Allah.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'I saw thirty-some angels rushing to see which of them would write it down first.'"
The Book of The At-Tatbiq (Clasping One's Hands Together) - Sunan an-Nasa'i
Hadith Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1062
Textual Analysis
This noble hadith demonstrates the virtue of adding supplementary praises after the prescribed "Rabbana wa lakal-hamd" following rising from ruku'. The Companion's spontaneous addition of "hamdan kathiran tayyiban mubarakan fih" exemplifies the permissibility of increasing in the remembrance of Allah beyond the obligatory formulae.
Angelic Response to Devotion
The Prophet's (ﷺ) statement regarding the thirty-some angels rushing to record this praise indicates the immense merit of such supplementary devotions. This shows that when a believer innovates in goodness - not in religious legislation but in voluntary acts of worship - angels compete to document these righteous deeds.
Legal Ruling (Hukm)
Scholars have derived from this hadith that supplementary praises after the obligatory "sami'Allahu liman hamidah" and "Rabbana wa lakal-hamd" are recommended (mustahabb). This applies to both the imam and those praying behind him, though the primary response remains the established "Rabbana wa lakal-hamd".
Spiritual Significance
The angels' eagerness to record this specific praise indicates its special status with Allah. The description "kathiran" (abundant), "tayyiban" (pure), and "mubarakan" (blessed) encompasses the qualities of perfect praise - plentiful in quantity, pure in quality, and filled with divine blessings.